ITER is the next step of the fusion energy experiment at the facility, and is currently being built in Saint Paul-lez-Durance, France by about 850 scientists and other professionals all over the world.

The ITER machine is being designed to produce 10 times the power it consumes. For example, it could produce 500 MW of fusion power from 50 MW of input power.

A magnetised plasma interaction device (MagPIE) will also be used in the facility to help determine which materials can endure extreme temperatures from fusion plasma.

“Choice of materials for use in ITER is an active research area, to which MagPIE is already contributing, in collaboration with ANSTO [Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation], who part-funded the project,” said Dr Adi Paterson, CEO of ANSTO.

Other upgrades to the facility include diagnostic automation, installation of fast cameras and photomultiplier arrays, and installation of new RF antennas.

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